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State Senator, 8th District

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on Delaware laws and the state budget and confirms the Governor's appointments.

Photo of Mara Gorman
Mara GormanOfficial portrait — Delaware House Democratic Caucus

Mara Gorman

Democratic

State representative (23rd District) · Newark area

The gist

  • Opposes large-load data centers
  • Supports higher-density housing and accessory dwelling units
  • Supports a Housing First approach to homelessness
  • Supports creating a medical school in Delaware
  • Co-sponsored a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights
  • Supports making Election Day a state holiday
More about Mara
View sources (1)
  1. Opposes large-load data centers

    Issues — Mara for Delaware

    Campaign website · Mara for Delaware · marafordelaware.com

    “Mara opposes the building of large load data centers and supports restrictions on the use of cameras for data collection.”
  2. Supports higher-density housing and accessory dwelling units

    Issues — Mara for Delaware

    Campaign website · Mara for Delaware · marafordelaware.com

    “encouraging municipalities to allow for creative housing solutions including higher density housing, accessory dwelling units, manufactured housing, cohousing”
  3. Supports a Housing First approach to homelessness

    Issues — Mara for Delaware

    Campaign website · Mara for Delaware · marafordelaware.com

    “Mara believes in the Housing First approach to homelessness”
  4. Supports creating a medical school in Delaware

    Issues — Mara for Delaware

    Campaign website · Mara for Delaware · marafordelaware.com

    “Mara supports measures to address both of these problems including the creation of a medical school in the First State.”
  5. Co-sponsored a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights

    Issues — Mara for Delaware

    Campaign website · Mara for Delaware · marafordelaware.com

    “Mara has signed on as a sponsor of the first leg of an amendment to do so.”
  6. Supports making Election Day a state holiday

    Issues — Mara for Delaware

    Campaign website · Mara for Delaware · marafordelaware.com

    “She also will fight for measures to make voting easier, including making Election Day a state holiday.”

Shane Cavanaugh

Republican

Small business owner

The gist

  • Supports small modular nuclear reactors for local power
  • Pledges to fight small-business fees and red tape
  • Supports less screen time and more hands-on learning
  • Pledges support for police and firefighters
More about Shane
View sources (1)
  1. Supports small modular nuclear reactors for local power

    Shane Cavanaugh for Delaware State Senate District 8

    Campaign website · Shane Cavanaugh for State Senate · shane4senate.com

    “I support emerging Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology to build local energy independence and prevent rolling power outages from high demand.”
  2. Pledges to fight small-business fees and red tape

    Shane Cavanaugh for Delaware State Senate District 8

    Campaign website · Shane Cavanaugh for State Senate · shane4senate.com

    “I'll fight unfair fees and red tape, demand transparency in the unemployment fund”
  3. Supports less screen time and more hands-on learning

    Shane Cavanaugh for Delaware State Senate District 8

    Campaign website · Shane Cavanaugh for State Senate · shane4senate.com

    “less over-reliance on electronics and more hands-on learning that prepares students for real life”
  4. Pledges support for police and firefighters

    Shane Cavanaugh for Delaware State Senate District 8

    Campaign website · Shane Cavanaugh for State Senate · shane4senate.com

    “I'll back the police and firefighters who protect us and work with neighbors to keep District 8 safe and family-friendly.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.